Remember the runaway cow? Of course you do. And so does artist Peter Max who arranged for her to live out her life with two of his friends in an animal rescue facility in upstate New York. During the cow caper, Mr. Max promised to donate work to the SPCA to be auctioned off to benefit the society.

        Well, Mr. Max is coming to town Nov. 8-10 - along with 100 of his paintings, which will be shown at the Malton Gallery in Hyde Park from Oct. 29-Nov. 11. But before you get too excited, the 100 paintings will not be auctioned off. Nor will his interpretation of Fountain Square as we were first informed. Instead Mr. Max will take portrait commissions from Cincinnatians and donate a percentage to the SPCA.

        When asked what Mr. Max charges for a portrait, we were told he didn't know yet.

        His show, Pop to Patriotism, includes paintings, drawings, and limited edition prints with subject matter ranging from his early “cosmic” works to his “Statue of Liberty” and “Flag with a Heart.”

        Information: 321-8614.

        Where's her mustache? The bio-flick Frida, the story of artist Frida Kahlo that stars Salma Hayek, opens in select cities at the end of this month to a great deal of anticipation. (It's tentatively scheduled to open here Nov. 8.) A well-primed PR machine has generated scores of stories on the movie, the woman and the biography by Hayden Herrera.

        But the funniest take on the movie (and the most original) comes from Salon.com's David Thompson who wonders why the Mexican artist is depicted without her trademark mustache.

        Anyone who has seen photographs of Ms. Kahlo or paid attention to her paintings - predominantly self-portraits - knows her exotic attractiveness was accented by a unibrow and mustache.

        Mr. Thompson writes: “Frida, we will be told, grew out of a deep respect for the "real woman.' Yet all the writers and producers couldn't let the truth on her upper lip show.”

        For truth, you can read the biography, which is in paperback (Perennial; $25). But you might, like me, find it slow going.

        African homes: In a rust and umber colored gallery off the main entrance to Louisville's Speed Museum of Art, the history of African art is revealed in a new permanent exhibition.

        In addition to the museum's holdings in West and Central African art, the new galleries will house pieces borrowed from other prominent collections.

        The reinstallation is part of the museum's plan to reconceptualize its offering of ethnic art.

        In 2000, the Speed engaged African art scholar Dr. Susan Vogel, former curator of African art for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, to implement a plan for building the collection, eventually representing art of the entire African continent.

        Highlights of the African galleries include a small group of Kuba decorative objects from the 19th century, a carved Fang reliquary guardian figure and two late-period Benin objects - a rare bronze altar stand and a wooden head from a chief's altar.

        The relocation of African art not only gives it more importance but allows - because of proximity to the European and American collections - a provocative presentation of 19th and 20th century art.

        Information: (502) 634-2700 or www.speedmuseum.org.

        Planning stage: Dayton Institute of Art will also renovate and expand its African collection and display space.

        Scheduled to open in February, the exhibition will consist of 50 pieces from the museum's permanent collection with others on long-term loan from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Field Museum in Chicago, among others.

        Canines and culture: If you're a dog lover you won't want to miss Columbus Museum of Art's display of more than 200 canine photographs, dating from 1840 to the present, which trace the history of photography while celebrating the bond between dog and man.

        It's a novel idea, and dog photo icons such as William Wegman and Elliott Erwitt are included, providing the perspective of dog as muse, model and diva.

        A Thousand Hounds: A Walk Through the History of Photography includes depictions of dogs with children, women, men and celebrities. The historical shots - many of which have the little darlings blurred - show technological innovations, as well as cultural, sociological and aesthetic developments in the medium.

        There's also a section devoted to dogs and war, featuring images of man's best friend on the battlefield, starting with the Civil War.

        Information: (614) 221-4848 or www.columbusmuseum.org.

        Call for artists: The Fish House Art Gallery in Waynesville is looking for artists for two shows. The gallery's annual holiday and wearable art show will be Nov. 2-Dec. 28 and a teapot show will be Feb. 8-March 30.

        Contact Sharen Eninger at (513) 897-1280.

        Laylah Ali: There's a regional opportunity to see a show of Laylah Ali's beautifully rendered cartoon-like figures at the Indianapolis Museum of Art Oct. 19-Jan. 26. These small-scale, gouache-and-ink drawings feature genderless figures with large round heads - usually green or blue - in situations suggesting racial or religious oppression. Ms. Ali, a young African-American artist, focuses on race, class, power and identity.

        The museum is located at 1200 W. 38th St. Information: (317) 923-1331 or www.ima-art.org.

Sculptor of experience
KIESEWETTER: 'Twilight Zone' misses Serling
Tell us your wedding stories
Get to it
DAUGHERTY: Losers' self-esteem will get them in trouble
Prize Possessions: Elvis memorabilia
Singles panelists find friends, not dates
KENDRICK: Volunteer, 94, proof that everyone has something to give
DEMALINE: Frugal theatergoers can find bargains
Runaway cow ordeal leads to Max exhibit
Boomer acts remain Riverbend's hottest tickets
Movie retells Kent State story
Campbell's Scoop: All-you-can-eat sushi
MARTIN: Roasted chicken, done in detail